Show us what you did today, thread
- Thread starter clockworkgazz
- Start date
Finally got off my ass and went for a bike ride. Not been out for three weeks due to family time off and just general laziness. Struggling to find motivation to get out at the moment. Once winter sets in it's not too bad, I'm just resigned that it'll be filthy for the next four months, but at this time there's always a slight glimmer of hope that the weather may stay ok for a week and the trails will dry out for one last hurrah. This year I think that ship has sailed. If the ford crossing from the end of last springs gravel ride is anything to go by, I better buy a kayak.
Untitled by Steven Clubb, on Flickr
For those that weren't there, Jimo rode through what was then a tiny trickle and barely got his feet wet. I'd left my SPD wellies at home today and took the wimpy option of the bridge (even though it has a "cars only" sign!).
Wet roots were "interesting" on 40c tyres and the connector track between the local stables was churned to buggery by what I can only assume was the field of the grand national, but still a good ride. Got a new soft compound mud tyre for the mtb, front mudguard was delivered to neighbours while I was out, new (half price) winter jacket has arrived from Madison sale and water repellent fleecy trews arrive tonight. Lights are on charge at the moment and will be cycled through a couple of times over the weekend. So, winter, bring it on!!!
Untitled by Steven Clubb, on FlickrFor those that weren't there, Jimo rode through what was then a tiny trickle and barely got his feet wet. I'd left my SPD wellies at home today and took the wimpy option of the bridge (even though it has a "cars only" sign!).
Wet roots were "interesting" on 40c tyres and the connector track between the local stables was churned to buggery by what I can only assume was the field of the grand national, but still a good ride. Got a new soft compound mud tyre for the mtb, front mudguard was delivered to neighbours while I was out, new (half price) winter jacket has arrived from Madison sale and water repellent fleecy trews arrive tonight. Lights are on charge at the moment and will be cycled through a couple of times over the weekend. So, winter, bring it on!!!
Re:
Jeez, I don't even remember that Ford, wouldn't fancy trying to navigate it now though!
I'm weirdly looking forward to winter riding, the summer was a bit pish to be honest, wouldn't mind some proper snow this year just to make things interesting :xmas-big-grin:
Jeez, I don't even remember that Ford, wouldn't fancy trying to navigate it now though!
I'm weirdly looking forward to winter riding, the summer was a bit pish to be honest, wouldn't mind some proper snow this year just to make things interesting :xmas-big-grin:
Re:
Sounds like a well thought out plan Clubby.
Winter is never far away up here and while I have had this week off, it has been raining everyday, so I went into work this morning and said how unfair it was as I had only got one ride in and so needed next week off to make up for it!
It worked! and now I am off next week too
Brian and the Highland classic group are up this weekend for an Altnabreac loop if anyone cares to join us. It has rained all week but Brian says we will be dry, we will see
I have been trying to prepare for winter as well, lights out, charged and tested. I have a few options but my Puffer lights that Chris Troutie made are like car lights, brilliant.
I have also been preparing to put the older blue Mercian together as a winter do all machine. I am also looking at taking the guards off my Trucker and putting some Super Yummy Simworks tyres on.
Jamie
Sounds like a well thought out plan Clubby.
Winter is never far away up here and while I have had this week off, it has been raining everyday, so I went into work this morning and said how unfair it was as I had only got one ride in and so needed next week off to make up for it!
It worked! and now I am off next week too
Brian and the Highland classic group are up this weekend for an Altnabreac loop if anyone cares to join us. It has rained all week but Brian says we will be dry, we will see
I have been trying to prepare for winter as well, lights out, charged and tested. I have a few options but my Puffer lights that Chris Troutie made are like car lights, brilliant.
I have also been preparing to put the older blue Mercian together as a winter do all machine. I am also looking at taking the guards off my Trucker and putting some Super Yummy Simworks tyres on.
Jamie
Hi Jimo
A few years ago now, when Troutie first seemed to get left with managing, well, starting really, the rabble that was the Fatty Owls he bought a big box of lights and batteries to the race. It was a godsend really as I was running cheap no name lights that were OK at a slow pace for a short time. The first lap Troutie strapped a row of these LCD's to my helmet I was giving myself a fright. Going up the fire road it was like driving a lorry with all the spotlights on, magic, I could see.
I didn't really know Chris at the time that well and was soon to learn that he used to make lights and pioneered many setups back in the day, quite famous for it really. He had stopped making them well before this time but still had boxs of spares etc.
A year or maybe two later after most of us had kept saying that we must get him to make us some he said that he had some spare casings and lights to make a few sets but we would have to buy our own batteries as he had no spares but he would sort them out.
Anyway, good man showed up a couple of years back with a great set of lights and a handlebar mount and the batteries were a small pouch, sort of like 4 x AA size in a nylon pouch that you can velcro to the bar or top tube, or even put in a handlebar bag when I use them on the road. On the road they are really bright and lots of depth, honestly, they are brilliant. The lights have three settings for brightness and even when commuting in the winter I have them at the lowest and can see far ahead. At this setting Chris reckoned I should get about 7 - 8 hours. The year before last they made most of the night at the Puffer, but I do stop for long periods
I think in the end we paid about £25 for the batteries or something like that and Chris built them all for the team. I am biased but for £25 I don't think in performance or quality you could buy them for less than a couple of hundred, at least.
Sadly just after the 2019 Puffer Chris had an out of the blue heart attack and passed away. Very sadly missed. Each time I use them, as well as other times of course, I think of Chris, or Troutie. In my house and amongst the Fatty Owls the lights are known simply as the Troutie lights. If you think his lights are good, you should have tried his home brew. He would brew up a load before the Puffer and then bring a big keg in the back of his van that would be pressurised by a track pump so you could pour.
Good days indeed.
We also had the big wood burner stove made by John MacLean shaped like an owl. Hopefully back up and running next year?? maybe 2022.
I will get a couple of pics of the lights tomorrow.
Jamie
A few years ago now, when Troutie first seemed to get left with managing, well, starting really, the rabble that was the Fatty Owls he bought a big box of lights and batteries to the race. It was a godsend really as I was running cheap no name lights that were OK at a slow pace for a short time. The first lap Troutie strapped a row of these LCD's to my helmet I was giving myself a fright. Going up the fire road it was like driving a lorry with all the spotlights on, magic, I could see.
I didn't really know Chris at the time that well and was soon to learn that he used to make lights and pioneered many setups back in the day, quite famous for it really. He had stopped making them well before this time but still had boxs of spares etc.
A year or maybe two later after most of us had kept saying that we must get him to make us some he said that he had some spare casings and lights to make a few sets but we would have to buy our own batteries as he had no spares but he would sort them out.
Anyway, good man showed up a couple of years back with a great set of lights and a handlebar mount and the batteries were a small pouch, sort of like 4 x AA size in a nylon pouch that you can velcro to the bar or top tube, or even put in a handlebar bag when I use them on the road. On the road they are really bright and lots of depth, honestly, they are brilliant. The lights have three settings for brightness and even when commuting in the winter I have them at the lowest and can see far ahead. At this setting Chris reckoned I should get about 7 - 8 hours. The year before last they made most of the night at the Puffer, but I do stop for long periods
I think in the end we paid about £25 for the batteries or something like that and Chris built them all for the team. I am biased but for £25 I don't think in performance or quality you could buy them for less than a couple of hundred, at least.
Sadly just after the 2019 Puffer Chris had an out of the blue heart attack and passed away. Very sadly missed. Each time I use them, as well as other times of course, I think of Chris, or Troutie. In my house and amongst the Fatty Owls the lights are known simply as the Troutie lights. If you think his lights are good, you should have tried his home brew. He would brew up a load before the Puffer and then bring a big keg in the back of his van that would be pressurised by a track pump so you could pour.
Good days indeed.
We also had the big wood burner stove made by John MacLean shaped like an owl. Hopefully back up and running next year?? maybe 2022.
I will get a couple of pics of the lights tomorrow.
Jamie
Trouties lights always got rave reviews on the singletrack forum. Never heard a bad word about them, or him.
Jimo, MBUK has its usual yearly light review this month.
Lots of folks just buy cheap Chinese knock offs on eBay. Can get amazing performance for no much money. Can also get very variable reliability, which as ever only shows up in the middle of a ride in the arse end of nowhere.
I use Lumicycle wide beam on the bars and Exposure Axis spot on the helmet. Fully charged them yesterday and popped them on the bike at 6pm and turned them full power on to cycle the battery. Went back at 10.15 and both lights were still running. Both battery warnings were in the red and they’d automatically turned down brightness but still going. Also have a wee set of Exposure Flash/Flare for road lights. They were put on at same time and are still on.
For the Puffer I imagine reliability trumps outright power.
Jimo, MBUK has its usual yearly light review this month.
Lots of folks just buy cheap Chinese knock offs on eBay. Can get amazing performance for no much money. Can also get very variable reliability, which as ever only shows up in the middle of a ride in the arse end of nowhere.
I use Lumicycle wide beam on the bars and Exposure Axis spot on the helmet. Fully charged them yesterday and popped them on the bike at 6pm and turned them full power on to cycle the battery. Went back at 10.15 and both lights were still running. Both battery warnings were in the red and they’d automatically turned down brightness but still going. Also have a wee set of Exposure Flash/Flare for road lights. They were put on at same time and are still on.
For the Puffer I imagine reliability trumps outright power.
Yeah, reliability is a must. Brian and I went for a ride one January night round the Puffer course and I had my cheap light on my bars and when it died, it gave no warning , just total darkness as we were flying down a fire road pretty fast Not fun but I had a back up so knew to change after so long. Should have been sensible and cycled them through at home like Clubby
I might do that with my Troutie lights this weekend anyway as they will be put into use soon when riding to work.
Jimo, exposure are at the race in the main tent and they hire out lights and charge batteries, you pick up your light and then each lap when you dab in you can just swap batteries and straight back out.
I am lucky with my cheap lights in that the battery packs fit the Troutie light and I have three batteries then. I got one of the cheap Cree lights and the first one blew as soon as I plugged a battery in, so they sent me a second one for free, battery and all. The first one I fixed as it was a power wire inside not connected properly, but they are great lights for commuting and the Puffer, just don't have the depth and spread of my Trouties, but they aren't meant to.
I will get some photos today or tonight I will take them out and try and get a photo.
Jamie
Not fun but I had a back up so knew to change after so long. Should have been sensible and cycled them through at home like Clubby I might do that with my Troutie lights this weekend anyway as they will be put into use soon when riding to work.
Jimo, exposure are at the race in the main tent and they hire out lights and charge batteries, you pick up your light and then each lap when you dab in you can just swap batteries and straight back out.
I am lucky with my cheap lights in that the battery packs fit the Troutie light and I have three batteries then. I got one of the cheap Cree lights and the first one blew as soon as I plugged a battery in, so they sent me a second one for free, battery and all. The first one I fixed as it was a power wire inside not connected properly, but they are great lights for commuting and the Puffer, just don't have the depth and spread of my Trouties, but they aren't meant to.
I will get some photos today or tonight I will take them out and try and get a photo.
Jamie
Jimo
Here is a couple of photos of my motley collection of lights, Trouties being the metal cased LEDs and the Chinese one being the single round one and the long red one of my Hope 1 that runs on AAA batteries as a back up. It's a good commuting light. I also have 3 rear red lights, one battery powered and the other 2 USB charged.
Will try and get a photo showing how bright.
Jamie
Lights by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
Lights by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
Here is a couple of photos of my motley collection of lights, Trouties being the metal cased LEDs and the Chinese one being the single round one and the long red one of my Hope 1 that runs on AAA batteries as a back up. It's a good commuting light. I also have 3 rear red lights, one battery powered and the other 2 USB charged.
Will try and get a photo showing how bright.
Jamie
Lights by Jamie Dyer, on FlickrLights by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
